Is Your Plate Too Full?

Kit Boyd

Published 9:30 pm, Tuesday, November 10, 2015

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Kit Boyd

Kit Boyd

Is Your Plate Too Full?

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Let's face it. Stress is a part of life and a certain amount of stress from time to time can be motivating. Short-term stress can be a survival tactic enabling us to stay alert and avoid or flee from danger. But we need a break from stressors in order to recharge. When there is too much stress and your plate is too full, there is the danger the plate might drop. If this happens we often cannot handle even the smallest amount of additional stress comfortably. Chronic stress can cause damage to our body as well as effecting our emotions, mental functioning and behaviors in a negative way.

Some of the physical problems connected to stress may be headaches, heart problems, insomnia, respiratory problems and chronic fatigue. Some people may even experience chest pains or stomach problems as a result of chronic stress. There is also a relationship between stress and reproductive system on men and women as chronic stress may make it more difficult for a couple to conceive a child.

Hypertension may also be a product of chronic stress. When your body is flooded with stress hormones it causes your heart to work harder and constricts blood vessels. This may cause your heart to pound and raise your blood pressure. While short-term stress can strengthen your immune system, chronic stress can lower your immune system making you more vulnerable to infection and diseases.

According to an article in Webmd, seventy-five percent to 90% of doctor's visits are the result of stress-related complaints. The article goes on to state 43% of all adults suffer from stress related health issues.

In addition to physical ailments, stress can cause a variety of emotional issues. Too much stress for too long may create or increase anxiety. The Mayo Clinic found that in addition to anxiety, stress may also increase depression, anger or irritability and restlessness. An article on the Mental Help website talked about how the effects of stress hormones in large amounts may add to depression and a sense of helplessness.

Negative effects of stress on memory and cognitive functioning have been documented. They show that high levels of stress over time can increase our vulnerability to decline in those areas. There is a relationship between emotional stress and focusing, concentrating and remembering abilities.

So, what can you do when your plate is too full? This is the really easy part as there are a multitude of stress relievers that work.

Deep, relaxation breathing can do wonders to calm the body and mind and lower anxiety. Any kind of exercise can be beneficial, especially if you have any depression. Yoga especially helps to increase our resilience and ability to handle stress. Laughter is the best medicine and releases stress and tension. Listening to music is an excellent way to de-stress. Finally, journaling can help to release emotional distress that results from too much stress. These are only a few of the many ways to reduce stress and many of more can be found online with a little time and patience.